Workplace Health and Safety

Introduction

In Manitoba, Under The Workplace Safety and Health Act (the Act), employers, supervisors and workers all have duties to help keep the workplace safe. It is obvious that everyone in the workplace has responsibility for safety and health. However, those with higher authority, such as employers and supervisors, have greater responsibility because they have more power of control over what goes on in the workplace.

According to Manitoba legislation, a safety and health committee is required in all workplaces that have 20* or more workers. In addition to this, a worker representative must be designated if a workplaces have between 5 and 19* workers. The only exception to the above requirements is that a committee is not required if project/seasonal work is expected to last 90 days or less. Otherwise employer/prime contractor must establish a committee for the project or seasonal work.

Choose Members

As I already mentioned that safety and health committee is required in all workplaces where 20* or more workers are working. In Workplace Safety and Health Act, It is stated that, each committee must have minimum 4, but not more than 12 members. The employer/owner have to talk with the union(s) to decide the exact number of committee members, or if there is no union, then they can directly discuss with the workers themselves.

It is also clearly stated in the act that the number of members representing management known as “employer members” must not exceed those number representing workers. There should always be more committee members from workers side who are not representing the management. Worker members of the committee are either appointed by the union, If there is no union, they are to be directly elected by the workers. Any disputes regarding the committee process may be referred to a safety and health officer of the WSH.

Selection of co-chairs

Each committee must have two co-chairpersons. A management co-chair is chosen by the employer members on the committee and the worker co-chair is chosen by the worker members. Terms of office Committee members are elected to two-year terms (or a length set out in the union constitution). Members may continue to hold office until reappointed or re-elected, or until a replacement is appointed or elected. How are worker representatives chosen? Worker representatives are chosen in the same way that committee members are. They must be appointed in accordance with the constitution of the union. If there is no union, they are to be elected by the workers they represent.